Thursday, August 09, 2007

EZ to the rescue (again)...and a query

My super pal Mike of Socktopus sent me a recording of Elizabeth Zimmermann telling her life story--of growing up in England, studying in Germany, meeting her husband, and coming to America. I played it on a recent car trip and was completely enthralled. When you tell things like this to your non-knitting friends, they think you're barmy. (A fine EZ vocab word). Her delivery is pure magic and she has such a knack for recounting events in a charming and detailed way. Listening to it motivated me to dust off my wayworn copy of Knitter's Almanac and finish a wip that was laying fallow in the bottom of the wip basket of purgatory. You might recall that I had a mini nervous breakdown over running out of yarn. As it turns out Babs had a skein of it to spare, and Bob's-your-uncle I was back in business. Hot damn!The SpecsPattern: February Baby SweaterYarn: Koigu p403 (2.5 skeins held together)Needles: size 6Mods: I did the sleeves in the round using 2 circs. I love the pattern but next time will use a solid yarn as the pattern is lost in all of the Koigu variegated madness--two strands held together was just a little too busy. But don't I get style points for using Koigu for a non-sock knit?

A funny thing happens when you work on one project exclusively--you actually finish it! The UFO August drill is proving to be of great use to me, as within the past week I have finished two pain-in-my-ass projects and this weekend should see the completion of the dastardly wip that has been on the needles the longest. Stay Tuned!

Part of my jobs involves overseeing student-created podcasts that are used in a foreign language classroom, so the whole podcasting thing is not foreign to me. I love the concept and think it has a myriad of genius applications. I have listened to a variety of knitting podcasts--some really dry and serious in a sort of formal way, and others raucous, chatty and completely annoying in that 'you had to be there' sort of way. But I have yet to find one that makes me want to put my Morrissey away. I am curious to know which podcasts you enjoy, and why. I am bandwagon-ready, but can't seem to find one that appeals to me.

I saw a blog where someone did one of EZ's sweater patterns (using 100 as "the number") on a set of size 1 circs to give it a test run. I'm so tempted by those knitting workshop dvd's.

The only one I've listened to is David Reidy's Sticks and Strings. He's out of Australia so even when he's talking local (which isn't so much) you don't really care because of that accent. And I like hearing a man's voice on the radio better than a woman's-unless Kathleen Turner decided to do a podcast. I listen on the drive to work as well when I've run out of This American Life episodes.

Darling sweater! I am a great fan of the audio book but haven't gotten into the whole podcast thing, except for the occasional NPR. Honestly, {{goes out on limb}} I don't get the point of most of them?

Just wanted to add another vote for Stash and Burn and the Knit Picks podcast. Stash and Burn is definitely my favorite knitting podcast. I like the format of a conversation, but they keep it on topic, which is nice. The KP podcast is surprisingly good ... I sort of expected something on the order of a long commercial, but actually no. The thing that is nice about both of them is that they are relatively short -- usually 30-40 minutes.

And for non-knitting podcasts, you can't go wrong with This American Life.

Oh, I love EZ< I loved reading her book Knitting Around, learning about her life. To hear her tell it in her own voice would be a treat! I'm still living like it's 1999 so haveing a Ipod isn't in my plans till say, oh 2099. No help at all .

you are an enabler. I finally broke down and went to amazon.com and bought the EZ DVDs - hearing that you had an audio recording of EZ talking about her life made me want (nay, need) to be in her presence. thanks for making me spend money!! :)

So so so so cute! What a great baby sweater! (Would you believe my life is completely EZ-free? I don't know why I'm so resistant, but I have never so much as picked up one of her books. I think it may be my innate sense of self-preservation asserting itself.)

Great sweater. My fav knitting podcasts are Cast On and Ready Set Knit (although I have to lock up my credit cards while I listen so I don't cruise over to the WEBS site and buy up all their inventory).

Great job on the baby sweater!My podcasts:Stash & Burn - fun, friendly girlsSticks & String - I could listen to his accent all dayCast On - Queen of knit podcastsCraftlit - Books and fiber - what more can you want?

You know, I've listened to a pretty wide variety of knitting podcasts; people will enthuse, I'll go download. And you know, I've finally come to terms with the fact that I just don't like podcasts. I don't know why--I listen to NPR constantly, so it's not like I don't like talk radio, and obviously, i like knitting quite a bit--but I just don't. And I'm OK with that :)

Cast-On is my favorite, and I enjoy Stash and Burn, as well. Sticks & String has become my Sunday-night-wind-down listen. There are a few I've tried and abandoned (primarily ones who blather on about their own brilliance), and a few I download but don't listen to religiously. Marie Irshad's (sp?) is also good, but she goes a long time between posts.

As for podcasts.... I'm with you... they seem to be either dry or "you had to be there". I skip around and just listen to one every once in a while but never seem to make it through the entire podcast. Maybe I have a little A.D.D.

Fantastic baby sweater! Thats going to be one lucky kid that gets that one : ) I wish I could listen to podcasts, but I swear its just as bad as trying to make a phone call for me. I hit play and then I hear "mommy!!"

Very cute sweater! I have a girl friend who is expecting and I can't wait to start knitting a baby sweater!!! I've been listening to podcasts for a while. My fav is Cast On. I love Brenda's voice and her format and her guest essayists. I also like the Knitpicks podcast and I was happy to find out that is was not a huge commercial. Ready Set Knit is good too - that one is a bit more commercial-esque - but in a good way. They let you know what is going on sale! I'm surprised that no one mentioned Lime and Violet as I that that was the most popular Knitting Podcast out there. Very funny and entertaining. I have no clue how they have time to keep up with everything happening in the knitting world though...Well, off to look up Stash and Burn as that is a new one for me! Great query, btw...

1. Lime & Violet - I think it's done well (i.e. doesn't sound like it's recorded in your dorm room) and I'm always intrigued by their WIPs, reviews and topics.

2. Stash and Burn - again, good content.

3. Cast-On - I love the presenter and always find her subjects engaging. My only problem with the p-cast is the production quality. Perhaps it's getting better.

4. Knitter's Uncensored - Besides thinking that all three of the hosts are hilarious and cute, I like that they are in Germany and always talk about the culture and knitting from that point of view. Plus they got me hooked on Wollmeise. They know their fiber.

I've been thinking of doing a podcast.. Maybe we should collaborate....

Beautiful sweater! I see what you mean about the pattern getting a little lost in the color variegation, but I can't imagine any baby would not want to be wrapped up in Koigu -- hell, I'd want to be wrapped up in Koigu if I could afford to knit myself a sweater!

As to podcasts, my favorites are Cast On (because Brenda could read the IRS code to me and I would love it), Lime & Violet (for laughs and yarn pr0n), and Craftlit (so someone else can read a book to me and I can rest my eyes).

What an adorable sweater. That's definitely one on my "to do" list (along with about a zillion other projects).

The knitting podcasts I consistently listen to are: Cast On, Sticks & String, Stash & Burn, and SSK. Some episodes are great and some aren't, but I find that if I'm not enjoying it, I just shut it off and go back to my music.

Way to go on the project completions! And I know what you mean about the knitting podcasts... I haven't found one I'd go back to hear more of yet... and I don't have time to produce one of my own, though I have toyed with the idea, he he he...

My computers/firewalls/etc... are all up and running again, so I'm back in the game! Still bummed about missing you over the 4th of July- maybe we can hook up on your next Minnesota visit...Anyhoo-Happy knitting-ali